In addition to the Anthem/Serencsa class action settlement (covered in my previous blog post--link below), Anthem Blue Cross California also has a settlement under the Feller-Freed class action. Use the link below to review Anthem/Serencsa as it applies differently than Anthem/Feller.
Anthem Blue Cross Serencsa/Lichtman Settlement
Feller-Freed deals with the following "closed" Anthem Blue Cross of California health plans: PPO Share 500, PPO Share 1000, PPO Share 1500 and PPO Share 2500. These plans were closed in 2009 and are not available for new enrollments. Feller-Freed differs in several ways from Serencsa/Lichtman (Serencsa only applies to PPO plans registered with the CA DOI).
Under Feller-Freed, Anthem Blue Cross CA has agreed to the following terms:
1. There is an annual open enrollment for plan changes for anyone on the closed PPO Share plans. This enrollment period is November 1 - December 15 of each calendar year for 2011, 2012 and 2013. It may or may not be extended to 2014.
2. Under the settlement, members who are currently enrolled in the PPO Share 500, 1000, 1500 and 2500 are entitled to a discount on future rate increases, if any, as specified in the settlement. Those currently enrolled who exercise their transfer option under #1 above will not be entitled to any possible discount of future rated.
3. Those who exercise the plan change option at annual open enrollment may have a higher rate on their new policy than their old policy.
Feller-Freed provides moves from the closed PPO Share plans to a variety of open plans (both CA DOI registered and DMHC registered) and also the option to move to another closed PPO Share plan with higher deductible than the original Share plan.
Anthem Blue Cross has provided agents with a transfer options matrix for Feller-Freed affected subscribers. There are specific plan change options available during each annual open enrollment.
As with Serencsa-Lichtman, Feller-Freed provides selected Anthem Blue Cross of California subscribers with remedy in the event of substantial rate increases on the original plans. Serencsa deals with certain PPO plans registered with the CA DOI and had a different set of rules regarding transfer options.
In both cases (Serencsa and Feller) it is very important for members on affected plans to be aware of their internal options with Anthem Blue Cross of California when looking to change to lower-cost coverage or make any plan changes.
Link to Feller-Freed Settlement web site
Neither Serencsa nor Feller apply to HIPAA guaranteed-issue plans.
Dave
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